China aircraft carrier sailing in Taiwan Strait

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Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday that China’s first aircraft carrier was sailing in the Taiwan Strait amid increased tensions between the mainland and the island territory it considers a breakaway province, BBC reports.

Taiwan’s official Central News Agency cited a ministry press release as saying that the Liaoning aircraft carrier and accompanying naval vessels entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone from the southwest in the morning.

Earlier this month, China’s military confirmed that the naval formation held takeoff and landing drills in the disputed South China Sea.

Wednesday’s press release said Taiwan's armed forces were closely monitoring the formation’s movements but did not address local reports about warplanes being deployed as part of the efforts.

The development comes while Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen is visiting Nicaragua as part of a four-nation tour in Central America.